COVID-19: Update by President Lionel Aingimea - Thursday 21 July 2022
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
by
His Excellency President Lionel
Aingimea, MP
Thursday, 21 July 2022
In today's update, the accumulative
statistics as at end of Wednesday, 20 July, are as follows:
-
3 new local cases
-
196 active cases
-
245 tests done yesterday (Wed, 20 July)
-
16,451 tests done this outbreak
-
4,399 cases recovered
-
0 patients in Acute Care Unit
-
1 death (accumulative)
-
0 critical cases
-
0 ventilation
-
5 occupants in Menen quarantine facility; these are incoming
passengers
-
32 houses on lockdown with 752 residents (some residents are
negative but they live in the same house and so will remain in home
isolation also)
Yesterday's test reported one per
cent or approximately one in 82 positive results from local
community testing. Overall positive tests collected this outbreak
is at 28 per cent.
Please practice hand hygiene and
keeping your distances of 1.5-2 meters.
If you leave your homes for
essential reasons please wear a mask.
A total of 188 children aged five
to 11 received their vaccinations yesterday (Wed, 20 July).
Of this number, 79 children
received their first dose (76 per cent) and 109 children received
their second dose (14 per cent) and are therefore fully
vaccinated.
Children who have taken their first
dose of the Pfizer vaccine on the 27th -29th June are now eligible
to take the second dose.
Get your child tested and
vaccinated at the Aiue Boulevard in Aiwo.
Parents and guardians are advised
that if your child has COVID, it is better to wait three months
from the time of infection to get their first dose. This will help
the body increase immunity.
Waiting three months is beneficial
in terms of building stronger immunity. However, there is no harm
if you want your child to take the shot after recovering from COVID
as long as they have no acute illness.
Do not hesitate to ask for
questions, help or advice from Health professionals at the
vaccination stations.
Classes resume for only Years 11
and 12 (QCE students) next week Monday, 25 July. All other classes
remain on hold.
The Department of Education is
working close with the Taskforce to ensure that all safety measures
are undertaken by students and teachers in regards to physical
distancing, sanitising hands and wearing masks.
Please practice hand hygiene, wear
a mask, keep your distances and keep houses well ventilated.
If you are self-testing at home
please call in to report your result with 192 or visit the link
below.
Numbers 191 and 192 are both
operational if you would like to enquire or request for
assistance.
Register your self-test RAT result
with 192 or go online at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0c233d5e98a44d7b942fbeb161c245df
If you test positive you must
isolate at home for at least 13 days (10 days for essential
workers) and follow protocols for ending isolation.
Step 2 of Easing National
Lockdown Measures
As announced yesterday, the
National COVID-19 Taskforce advises thatStep 2of easing the
national lockdownstarted at midnight on 20 July. The following are
in place:
It is recommended that you stay
home unless necessary.
Consider ways to protect the
vulnerable in your home.
Health Services
•
Service focus on critical & urgent need.
•
Non-urgent care and services where capacity permits
•
COVID Screening for all persons entering Hospital Grounds
•
Increasing General OPD services
•
Reduced Specialist Clinics
•
Separate Clinics & ER for COVID positive patients
•
Separate COVID wards and zones within the Hospital
Education
•
All students, teachers and support workers must have had at least
first dose COVID vaccine or recently recovered from COVID and
waiting for first dose
•
Adult education facilities continue
•
Years 11-12 recommence classes Monday 25th July (Term 3). Amended
from yesterday's announcement. All other year levels do not resume
classes yet.
•
All other classes remain closed
Workplaces & Business
•
Some non-essential activities to recommence
•
Restaurants can serve food & beverage - ensure physical
distancing, capacity limit 20
•
Outdoor fundraising permitted (sale of goods or food beside roads
or at outdoor marketplace)
•
No bars, including kava bars - remain closed
•
No gaming activity
Church
•
Restricted church services can recommence Sunday 24 July
•
Open-air, well-ventilated venues where possible
•
Must ensure physical distancing
•
Maximum up to 50 indoors whilst ensuring distancing
•
Register names and contact number of attendees
•
Funerals permitted with all members from the deceased residence
plus up to 50 others, plus those conducting the funeral service
Social Gatherings
•
Up to 5 visitors in your home
•
Outdoor social gatherings of up to 20 people.
•
Celebrations or functions including birthdays, engagements,
weddings are permitted with all members from your household plus up
to 20 others
Sport
•
Personal training and non-contact sport and physical activity
permitted outdoors, and if indoors, only if physical distancing is
able to be maintained
•
Non-contact team sports/activities permitted
Travel
•
Incoming passenger travel permitted from 11 July
- Passengers aged 12 and over must
be fully vaccinated
- PCR test 72 hours before
travelling
- RAT test on arrival. Isolate in
managed quarantine accommodation if positive
- PCR test day following arrival.
Isolate in managed quarantine accommodation if positive
Social Distancing
The distance between persons is 1.5
to 2 meters. It is important that we respect and adhere to these
rules. Although some restrictions have been lifted the public is
urged to continue wearing masks, sanitise and distancing. Isolate
if you are positive.
ENDS///